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BACK Origin of surname

BACK

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name derives from an occupation (also connected with raw material, finished product or implements associated with that trade).

Back is a form of Baecker, the German for "baker", recorded in 15th century Germany. Some variants of both forms are derived from acronyms (a name created from the initial letters of a Hebrew phrase, and which refers to a relative, lineage or occupation) of the Hebrew 'Bnei Kedoshim' ("sons of the martyrs") or 'Bnei Kedoshim Rabanim' ("sons of martyrs and rabbis"). Others are linked to Baruch, which means "blessed" in Hebrew. The biblical Baruch, son of Neriah, was the companion and chronicler of the prophet Jeremiah. Baruch became a widespread votive personal name throughout the Jewish Diaspora and produced a great number of family names. Becker is documented in 1260 in Koeln (Cologne), western Germany;Back in 1495 in Munster, western Germany, with Meyer Back; Beck in 1668 in Prague, Bohemia, with Samuel Beck; and Backofen, the German for "baking oven", in 1677, with Saerle Backofen of Prague. Baker was also rendered as Pekar(sky) in Slavic and Broitman, literally "bread man" in Yiddish. Other related professional names are associated with bakery products, for instance Bulke (the Yiddish for "baked roll"), Zemel (a "roll"), and Matsas, the unleavened bread baked for Passover.

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Back include the Czech Rabbi and scholar Samuel Back (1841-1899). In the 20th century Back is recorded as a Jewish surname during World War II with Max Back of Duesseldorf, Germany, who perished in German-occupied Lodz in July 1942.

Samuel Baeck (1841-1899), rabbi and scholar, born in Hlohovec, Slovakia (Freystadt in German, Galgoc in Hungarian, then part of the Austrian Empire, later Czechoslovakia). Baeck served as rabbi in Prague-Smichov from 1872. 
His writings deal with philosophical, historical, and Talmudical subjects. Baeck's published works include Josef Albos Bedeutung in der Geschichte der juedischen Religionsphilosophie (1869); Das Synhedrion unter Napoleon I (1879); Entstehungsgeschichte der portugiesischen Gemeinde in Amsterdam und Rabbi Menasse ben Israel (1883); Elischa ben Abuja-Acher (1891); R. Meir ben Baruch aus Rothenburg: Sein Leben und Wirken, seine Schicksale und Schriften (1895); and Die Fabel in Talmud und Midrasch (in MGWJ, vols. 25, 29, 30, 33). Baeck also published sermons and eulogies as well as articles in learned periodicals.

Abraham Back (aka Abraham Bach) (1878-1949), rabbi, librarian and educator, born in Bucharest, Romania. He moved to Paris, France, in 1897, where he studied at the Séminaire israélite de France and was ordained a rabbi in 1903. In 1912 he became a Talmud teacher and in 1914 he was appointed professor at the Séminaire israélite de France, and then at the École normale israélite orientale (ENIO) and at Alliance israélite universelle (AIU) working as well as a librarian for AIU. During WW I, he served as the rabbi of the Moroccan Division of the French army that included many soldiers drafted from among Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. After WW I, he served as honorary president of the Anciens combattants volontaires juifs. In 1931 he edited Le Volontaire juif periodical. Back joined the Mizrahi Religious-Zionist movement. During WW II he lived in Algeria. He married Flore Cohen-Aknine, the daughter of Mardochée Cohen, a merchant and the president of the Jewish community of Bougie (now Béjaïa) in Algeria. Abraham Back died in Nice, France, where he spent his last years.

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BACK Origin of surname
BACK

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name derives from an occupation (also connected with raw material, finished product or implements associated with that trade).

Back is a form of Baecker, the German for "baker", recorded in 15th century Germany. Some variants of both forms are derived from acronyms (a name created from the initial letters of a Hebrew phrase, and which refers to a relative, lineage or occupation) of the Hebrew 'Bnei Kedoshim' ("sons of the martyrs") or 'Bnei Kedoshim Rabanim' ("sons of martyrs and rabbis"). Others are linked to Baruch, which means "blessed" in Hebrew. The biblical Baruch, son of Neriah, was the companion and chronicler of the prophet Jeremiah. Baruch became a widespread votive personal name throughout the Jewish Diaspora and produced a great number of family names. Becker is documented in 1260 in Koeln (Cologne), western Germany;Back in 1495 in Munster, western Germany, with Meyer Back; Beck in 1668 in Prague, Bohemia, with Samuel Beck; and Backofen, the German for "baking oven", in 1677, with Saerle Backofen of Prague. Baker was also rendered as Pekar(sky) in Slavic and Broitman, literally "bread man" in Yiddish. Other related professional names are associated with bakery products, for instance Bulke (the Yiddish for "baked roll"), Zemel (a "roll"), and Matsas, the unleavened bread baked for Passover.

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Back include the Czech Rabbi and scholar Samuel Back (1841-1899). In the 20th century Back is recorded as a Jewish surname during World War II with Max Back of Duesseldorf, Germany, who perished in German-occupied Lodz in July 1942.
Written by researchers of ANU Museum of the Jewish People
Samuel Baeck

Samuel Baeck (1841-1899), rabbi and scholar, born in Hlohovec, Slovakia (Freystadt in German, Galgoc in Hungarian, then part of the Austrian Empire, later Czechoslovakia). Baeck served as rabbi in Prague-Smichov from 1872. 
His writings deal with philosophical, historical, and Talmudical subjects. Baeck's published works include Josef Albos Bedeutung in der Geschichte der juedischen Religionsphilosophie (1869); Das Synhedrion unter Napoleon I (1879); Entstehungsgeschichte der portugiesischen Gemeinde in Amsterdam und Rabbi Menasse ben Israel (1883); Elischa ben Abuja-Acher (1891); R. Meir ben Baruch aus Rothenburg: Sein Leben und Wirken, seine Schicksale und Schriften (1895); and Die Fabel in Talmud und Midrasch (in MGWJ, vols. 25, 29, 30, 33). Baeck also published sermons and eulogies as well as articles in learned periodicals.

Abraham Back

Abraham Back (aka Abraham Bach) (1878-1949), rabbi, librarian and educator, born in Bucharest, Romania. He moved to Paris, France, in 1897, where he studied at the Séminaire israélite de France and was ordained a rabbi in 1903. In 1912 he became a Talmud teacher and in 1914 he was appointed professor at the Séminaire israélite de France, and then at the École normale israélite orientale (ENIO) and at Alliance israélite universelle (AIU) working as well as a librarian for AIU. During WW I, he served as the rabbi of the Moroccan Division of the French army that included many soldiers drafted from among Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. After WW I, he served as honorary president of the Anciens combattants volontaires juifs. In 1931 he edited Le Volontaire juif periodical. Back joined the Mizrahi Religious-Zionist movement. During WW II he lived in Algeria. He married Flore Cohen-Aknine, the daughter of Mardochée Cohen, a merchant and the president of the Jewish community of Bougie (now Béjaïa) in Algeria. Abraham Back died in Nice, France, where he spent his last years.